Page:Life in India or Madras, the Neilgherries, and Calcutta.djvu/76

62 large and strong Fort St. George takes the place of its wall. Around this central town and fort, an unoccupied and beautifully level space, seven hundred yards wide, is kept as an esplanade. Stretching around the city from north to south, it prevents the approach of an enemy to the walls under cover. The rapidly-increasing population finding no room within the walls, has spread itself in a continuous semicircle of suburbs beyond the esplanade and around the old town. The residences of the English are without the town, and almost entirely in the districts south of the fort.

Chintadrepettah is the suburb lying southwest of the city. A few hundred yards from the church, which stands upon the main street, is the American mission-house, with school-bungalows, houses for native teachers, and outhouses. Driving up to the door upon the morning of our disembarkation, we found ourselves in front of a neatly-plastered house, one story in height, with a verandah (portico) supported by pillars; mats hanging between the pillars, defended the house in front from the glare of the sun. The carriage door was soon opened by Chinnatamby, a Hindu servant, and with a profusion of salutations we were welcomed to